 Saturday, December 08, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
NFL Week #14 Picks
I was 2-1 last week. I missed being perfect by one point as the Bills beat the Redskins 17-16 on a last second field goal. I am 17-10 on the season.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
The Bills beat the Dolphins at home.
The Jets lose at home to the Browns. As the sun sets in the 4:15 pm game, it could affect the Browns who are not used to playing in the unique wind and weather pattern of Giants Stadium. Perhaps it is the ghost of Jimmy Hoffa. 
The Giants beat the Eagles. This is a tough game to pick because of the Giants' lack of consistency and Donovan McNabb may not be 100 percent.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Why is Santana still available? Did Smith overplay his hand?
A report by the AP said that the Mets still have a shot at Johan Santana. Sure they have a shot, but it is a long one, the official Steve and the Tank odds are on opening Day 2008 Santana will be on the following teams:
Red Sox 2-1
Twins 3-1
Yankees 4-1
Mets 8-1
Other 9-1
That said, if the Twins wanted to deal him, how come a deal is not in the works now? Look how fast the Florida-Detroit blockbuster deal took, maybe 48 hours? I think the a deal on Santana is taking so long for a few reasons.
First Twins GM Bill Smith is new and proceeding cautiously. While that may be the case it is more likely another 2007 off-season player overplaying his hand. Santana has a no-trade clause and will be demanding big money in the 72 hour window after the trade to lock up a long term Barry Zito type of deal. Only a few teams have that kind of money and tradable talent and they are the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and to some degree Chicago Cubs. So just like ARod's agent Scott Boras, Smith may have overplayed his hand demanding Ian Kennedy from the Yankees, Bill Smith maybe making a similar mistake. By causing the Yankees to bail out, the price suddenly dropped (the Yankees are usually the highest bidder).
Let's look at this from a simple market economy point of view. Limited supply (only one Johan Santana) and limited demand (only a few teams can afford him.) Also, it is highly likely that Santana will leave after 2008, so now is the time to trade him when his value is the greatest. Smith has to unload Santana this off-season, despite what he tells the media. With the removal of the Yankees (at least for now) and only a few teams in the running, it is now a little more of a buyers market due to less teams pushing up the price and time running out for Smith. If can you make the Twins sweat by waiting, the demands from the Twins will come down. If the Yankees and Mets deal for pitchers like Haren and Bedard that leaves the Twins with one legitimate suitor, the team from the original list that needs Santana the least. The World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Theo Epstein is no fool, he knows that waiting is in his best interest. Don't expect to see the Red Sox to move too quickly in order to force the pitching desperate Mets and Yankees to give up and go after someone else like Haren or Bedard. If the Mets and Yankees make their moves soon, expect there to be the fear of God in Bill Smith and a hat in hand phone call to Theo Epstein.
One thing, this is sure fun to watch.
Posted by Steve (studying for MBA finals) in New York
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Are the Yankees bluffing on Santana?
Yesterday we were speculating if Omar was bluffing at the winter meetings about landing quality pitching. The Yankees made a midnight Monday night deadline for the Johan Santana sweepstakes. The Twins insisted on Ian Kennedy as the third player and the Red Sox are ready to move. The Yankees hinted that they left the race because they felt the Twins were running up the price by playing the Red Sox off the Yankees. Are they bluffing? Their recent public statements on A-Rod and then public reversal give them a credibility gab on this issue. The Yankees need to make this trade. While the Yankees retained their four key free agents: ARod, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte, they spent a lot of money maintaining the status quo, not improving. The Yankees traditionally have spent the most money and not on the best players. Here is a shot to get the best pitcher in the game. Yes you have to give up two prospects, however, sometimes you just have to pull the trigger for a superstar. Looks like the Yankees pulling out does not increase the Mets chances, they apparently have accepted reality and moved on. Last night it was reported that the Mets offered Aaron Heilman, Carlos Gomez and Philip Humber for Erik Bedard. There was a similar rumor last week but with Millidge in place of Gomez and Baltimore was not impressed. Florida moving Dontrelle Willis effect the Mets and Yankees calculus. Other clubs may hold on to their pitchers until after the Santana deal is done to see how desperate teams are to make a deal and extract more from them. Posted by Steve in New York
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Is Omar Bluffing?
Omar Minaya said yesterday: "We don't feel like we have to do a deal for a pitcher. That being said, we are going to try to improve ourselves." Hopefully Omar is bluffing. If he is not, he is making a very dangerous mistake. In 2006 the Mets lacked an Ace and did not trade for Barry Zito at the trade deadline. The Mets paid dearly for that in the NLCS where they had to start a 3-13 pitcher start in Games 5 and 7. Last year, Omar went to spring training with Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey. I supported this decision. I was wrong since I did not anticipate Pelfrey's ineffectiveness, Pedro's longer recovery, and the tax on the bullpen. Replace that 5th slot in 2007 with an Ace and the Phillies finish 3 games back, not 1 game up in 2007. Now Omar is willing to go to spring training with a rotation of Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine, Oliver Perez and more rookies. Did he not get the memo? If not, memo to Omar: The Mets NEED STARTING PITCHING! Not having an Ace overworks your bullpen. Not having an Ace prevents having the stopper when there is a losing streak or slump. Not having an Ace in a game 1 of a Phillies or Atlanta series makes the team depend on the bullpen more. Not having an Ace looming over your opponent for a Game 7 makes you less intimidating. Priority number 1 should be an Ace. Omar's staff should be working overtime on this issue and present him with new ideas each day. The scouts should be traveling to games in Peru and India if necessary. More important than anything else, I would even delay the new stadium to pay for an Ace. The Mets need Johan Santana. I would give up Philip Humber, Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Gomez, and a second tier prospect for him. Obviously the Mets wont get him since the Yankees and Red Sox are offering more. But Baltimore ace Erik Bedard or Oakland pitchers Dan Haren and Joe Blanton might be available. Even if you have to trade more than you want to, you need an innings eater, stopper, under 30 Ace on your staff in 2008 to be competitive in the NL East and the playoffs. In reality the Mets need two, but fans will settle for one. In other news, Omar denied a report that said he's been unsuccessfully trying to get a contract extension. Maybe the Wilpons got the memo that the Mets need starting pitching. Second memo to Omar: New York is impatient and only loyal to one thing: winning. Just ask Joe Torre about that. Steve got the memo and will send in his resume to the Wilpons if Omar fails to deliver this winter on an Ace. Posted by a frustrated Steve in New York
Monday, December 03, 2007
Bowl Chaos Series (BCS)
Division I College Football is in dire need of a playoff system. Ohio State and LSU lucked out that West Virginia and Missouri lost their games on Saturday to advance to the BCS title game on January 7.
Don't get me wrong, I love computers and work with them everyday. I have read, tabulated, and formulated my share of polls. However, combine polls, computers, and college football and it's a recipe for disaster. LSU versus Ohio State is going to be a great game which I'll break down sometime in the next five weeks. Ugh! Five weeks of hype will be worse than the Super Bowl and almost as bad as the Presidential primaries. Wise voters like yourselves know to pull the lever for Steve and the Tank in November 2008. Thank you in advance for your support.
I will not have closure until there is a Division I playoff system. It is already taking place in Divisions II and III. Student athletes in those Divisions not only play for championship but also study and take exams. Yes, these concepts maybe foreign to Division I teams but hope spring eternal. Speaking of hope, thank God Andy Pettitte wants to play with the Yankees in 2008!
Posted by a cautiously optimistic (college football) and relieved (Andy Pettitte) Tank in NY
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling
Hello Sportsfans! Thanks to everyone who came out to Arlene's last month for Amateur Female Jello Wrestling! Check out the photos of the party here.
Join us for the last Jello party of 2007, this Sunday at Arlene's Grocery with musical guests EvenEye, Vesper and DJ Xerox. Don't forget to RSVP for reduced admission!
Next Sunday, come Twister to Disco in Crisco with Kickstart, Trauma Team and DJ Skintight... 
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling this Sunday at Arlene's Grocery!
"Think the days of female empowerment through mortal combat were over? Think again--as this tongue-in-cheek sporting event brings ready-made deserts back to the ring where they belong." - TimeOut New York
Come support our feminist fight club!
Dana Sterling proudly presents:
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling
Sunday, December 2, 2007 @ 8pm
Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton Street (Ludlow & Allen)
Subway: F to 2nd Ave.
8:00pm Show, 6:30pm Wrestle Lesson (wrestlers only)
with musical guests:
Eclectic sultry pop foursome Eveneye
Sexy Expi-rock trio Vesper
& your cover lover DJ Xerox (of Copy Cat/Hipster Travel).
Hosted by Allan & Veronica Vicious.
21+
Admission: Girls who wrestle: Free,
Girls who choose not to wrestle: $5
Boys who come with girls: $10
Single boys: $20 (Get it? Bring a girl!)
Get $2 off admission with RSVP to rsvp@annierock.com.
Hey Ladies, want to wrestle? RSVP at danasterling@gmail.com or 917-653-5674, and show up at 6:30 for the mandatory free Wrestle Lesson!
(This is a woman founded, woman managed event)
(No Jello was harmed in the making of this event)
www.jellowrestle.com 
Meet the musicians: EVENEYE Brooklyn-based quartet EvenEye's music is a funky, groove-based form of pop-rock. Front woman Laurel sparkles and flirts with the audience, performing jazzy melodies over the band's eclectic grooves. The band's overall sound is light-hearted, almost goofy at times, but listen closely, the darker meaning behind Laurel's soothing tones reveals the band's delightfully slightly twisted nature.
VESPER Brooklyn-based trio Vesper performs sonically beautiful, edgy, hard rock. Led by a girl/boy vocal duo, Vesper pairs careful lyrics with dynamic songwriting. With dark and winding storylines, Vesper's songs are intense tales of love and loss, and the decay of innocence. Their debut album ... With Autumn I Fell ... is out now.
DJ XEROX aka Evan Tritt, is a tribute-band’s dream come true, a connoisseur of do-overs. An NYC native, DJ Xerox is the force behind Hipstertravel.com, an events website featuring hip happenings from major cities all over the US and the world as well as Xerox’s own NYC events list. DJ Xerox also curates and hosts Copy Cat, a cover-devoted evening featuring live bands, bi-weekly at Otto’s Shrunken Head. more
Saturday, December 01, 2007
NFL Week 13 Picks
Last Week: I was 2-1 last week and 15-9 on the season. I would have been perfect if the Giants were in sync and could run pass patterns and catch the football against the Vikings.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
Buffalo loses at Washington. The Redskins are tough at home and playing in memory of their late teammate, Sean Taylor. R.I.P. Sean.
The Jets win at the winless Dolphins.
The Giants bounce back and win at the Bears. Eli Manning must step up. This is the hardest game of the week to pick. Avoid it at all costs as it is a "trap game".
Written by the Tank and posted by Steve in NY.
Friday, November 30, 2007
The Knicks Boston Massacre Set to the Music of the Three Tenors
The Knicks suffered their worst defeat ever last night at the Boston Garden 104-59. Had Nate Robinson not hit a last second three point shot, it would have been the Knicks lowest point total ever which was 58. The game became so unwatchable that I watched Channel 13's fundraising special featuring the Three Tenors.
Once the PBS fundraiser was over, I hoped the second TNT game with the Lakers and Nuggets was on but the suffering continued. Why did they pile on? Q Rich shot his mouth before the game that the Celtics "weren't deep". Every Celtic hustled and played hard. They didn't quit. I wish I could say the same for the Knicks. After all the Knicks players voted for Isiah to bench Starbury after he decided not to show up for the Phoenix game, Isiah played Starbury 34 minutes. The rest of the Knicks lost faith in Isiah.
Time for Jim Dolan to show Isiah the door to stop the pain and suffering.
Posted by an angry Tank in NY.
Omar Minaya says he won't trade Jose Reyes
As predicted earlier this week on this blog, Omar is not crazy and won't trade Jose Reyes for Santana. "We're very happy with Jose Reyes," Minaya said in Friday's NY Daily News. "Jose Reyes is part of our future. He's a core player for us. I don't see us trading Jose Reyes..." This does not remove the Mets from the Santana sweepstakes but it does give the edge to the Yankees and Red Sox. Posted by Steve in Vancouver
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